Cloud Fraction

Other Names

Cloud Cover, Cloud Amount, Cloud Presence, Cloud Frequency

Definition

The fraction of the sky that is covered by the cloud; also referred as Cloud Amount or Cloud Cover.Cloud Fraction or Cloud Cover is defined as the number of cloudy pixels divided by the total number of pixel.It also refers to the amount of sky estimated to be covered by a specific cloud type (cirrus, contrail, cirrostratus,cumulus,--),cloud particle phase(water,ice,liquid, mixed), cloud height (low, mid, high) or by all cloud types (total cloud fraction). Cloud differs from fog only in that the latter is, by definition, close (a few meters) to the earth's surface.